Canopy frame



- O. S. CASE Dec.'8, 1931.

CANOPY FRAME Filed Spt. 6, 1950 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT OFF-ICE OWEN S. CASE, OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA Y CANOPY FRAM Application fil ed September 6, 1930. Serial No'. 4s0,11 e."

This invention relates to a 'wall raclr or canopy frame such as shown in applicants Patent No. 1,777,911, issued October 7, 1930. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, light and eflicient frame .whichwill support a canopy over any desired structure, such asa necktierack, a wall shelf, an electric light, etc., in such a way that the canopycan be opened and will remainopen when desired. 7 v V The invention is particularly applicable to a support for a bracket light of the type employed upon dressing table mirrors and the like or as a bed lamp arranged to be attached to the head of a bedstead. Infact the invention is applicable for any use where an ornamental light canopy is desired which can be opened to let but additional light when required. For instance, whenu'sed upon a mirror the canopy can be snapped open to light the face of the user or when used upon a bed it can be similarly snapped open to allow a strong reading light to emit.

, Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, whlch is designed for" simplicity,economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is hadto the accompanying drawings which form a parthereofa Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description. V y

In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates the frame supporting a typical canopy in the 'closedposition.

Fig. 2 illustrates the canopy of Fig. 1 in the open position. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the complete canopy frame arranged for support;- ing an electric light socket.

Fig. 4 is a detail vlew' of the upper portion of the frame member.

Fig.5 1s afdetail view of the hinge socket member employed'inthe device. Fig. dis a detail view of one ofthe door frame members;

5o more particularly pertaining to" the supportward and rearward angle as shown at 19,

. The invention will be herein describedas ing of a canopy overan electric light globe. It is desiredto be understood that the invention is not limited to this use and may be employed for any other purpose such as for supporting a covering, for a necktie rack as illustrated in thesaid co-pending applica tion, Serial No. 324,835. I a

The invention comprises a main frame 10 preferably formed of a continuous length of relatively stiff wire, the extremities of which are maintainedseparatedby a cross bracell- Below the cross brace 11the extremities-of the frame 10 are turned outwardly and per; forated to form hinge brackets 12. A supporting hook 13 may be formed in the apex of the frame 10 to support the device from any desired supporting structure.

Two inwardly projecting pins. 14 are secured on the frame 10 adjacent its apex. The pins 14 pass into a bearingfltub'el5 formed on a socket member 16. Two door frame members17 and 18- are provided, the upper extremities of which are turned at a down- Fig. 6; The turned extremities 19 of each of the door members 17 and 18 arepassed into the socket member 16. The doormembers maybe bent to conformto any desired design. As illustrated, they are. each formed with a straightside, which comes together to close the canopy, and an arcuate side which forms the outline of the canopy. v Thearcuate sides terminate in upwardly turned hinge-hooks 20 which are passedinto' the hinge brackets 12. The door members are provided with finger knobs 21 by means of which they 'may be swung to the open and closed positions The operation of the turned portions 19 and the socket member 16 forms oneofthe principal features o'fvthe invention. It will be noted that the turned'portions 19 arebent at an angleto an axial line through hinge hooks, indicated at B, Fig. 6.] Therefore, the doors d0 'notfreely revolve about their axes but must distort when swinging to 90,

I accommodate for, the misalignmentof the portions 19 with thei-axis'of the swingf Let us assume that the door member 17 is pushedtowa d 'the closedor broke'n line posi tion of Fig. 3. T his causes its turned portion 19 to swing the socket member 16 rearwardly to the broken line position of this figure. In swinging rearwardly the socket member 16 will simultaneously pull the door member 18 to the closed position.

Naturally there is a tendency for the two turned extremities 19 of the door members to swing toward each other as they move to either the open or closed position. However, since they are maintained rigidly in position by the socket lnember 16 they can not swing toward or away from each other. This results in a bending strain being placed in the door members as they pass toward either the open or closed position. The direction of this bending strain is indicated by a dot and dash line at A. The result of this bending action is to cause the door members to snap shut and snap open after they pass the center point of their travel. It also acts to firmly hold the doors in either the open or closed positions. I

The frame 10 is bent outwardly adjacent its apex as indicated by'the portions 28 in order to space the frame away from the sup:

porting structure sufficiently to provide room for the socket member 16.

The cross bar 11 may support any desired structure such as the necktie rack of Serial No. 324,835, or a series of shelves, or an electric light socket, as indicated at 22. The socket 22 may be supported by forming an encircling band 23 upon the member 11 through which the socket is passed. The socket will, of course, support any suitable electric light globe 24 within the frame.

The frame is designed to support a depending canopy, such as illustrated at 25, of any desired ornamental material or design,

such as the translucent, colored china. silk usually employed for lamp shades and the like. The canopy may be ornamented with braid, beads, etc., such as illustrated at 26 and 27, if desired.

It is desired to call attention to the ease of assembling the three parts forming this invention. It is only necessary to extend the bent portions 19 into the socket l6 and then slightly flex the doors so that their natural spring will pull the hinge hooks 20 into the perforations of the brackets 12. The device is thencompletely assembled.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is 1. A canopy frame comprising: a supportmg frame; spaced apart hinge brackets at the lower extremities of said supporting frame; door members; a hinge hook formed on one extremity of each of said door members, each of said hinge hooks engaging one of said hinge brackets; a turned extremity formed on the other extremity of each of said door members; and a swinging socket member hinged to said frame above and between said brackets, said socket member receiving both said turned ex remities so that the movement of one door member will. be communicated to the other door member by their common socket member.

2. A canopy frame comprising: a supporting frame; spaced apart hinge brackets at the lower extremities of said supporting frame; door members; a hinge hook formed on one extremity of each of said door members, each hook engaging one of said hinge brackets; a turned extremity formed on the other extremity of each of said door members; a swinging socket member hinged from said frame above and between said brackets, said socket member receiving both said turned extremities so that the movement of one door member will be communicated through said socket member to the other door member, said turned extremities being formed at an angle to the axis of rotation of said door members so that they will tend to cramp each other intermediate the extremities of the swing of said door members.

3. A canopy frame comprising: a main frame arranged for attachment to a support, said frame having a substantially inverted V shaped contour; a swinging socket member hinged at the apex of said V; a pair of door members hinged at the lower corners of said V, an angularly turned extremity at the top of each said door members, both said extremities engaging said socket member so that movement of either door will move said socket member and cause both said door members to move simultaneously.

4;. A canopy frame comprising: a main frame arranged for attachment to a support, said frame having a substantially inverted V-shaped contour; a swinging socket memher at the apex of said V; door members hinged at the lower corners of said V; angularly turned extremities at the top of said door member adapted to pass into said socket member so as to cause both said door members to move simultaneously, said angularly turned extremities being projected at an angle to the axis of rotation so as to cause them to tend to approach each other during the swing of said door members so as to flex the latter during their travel and maintain said door members in either the open or closed positions. 7

5. A canopy frame comprising: a cross member; a wire frame extending upwardly from each extremity of said cross member to an apex thereabove; means carried by said frame for supporting it from a supporting structure; perforated hinge brackets at the and a pair of door members each formed of a single length of wire, each wire extending from a perforatlon 1n one of sa1d hinge brack ets outwardly and upwardly and terminating within said socket member.

6. A canopy frame comprlslngz a cross member; a wire frame extending-upwardly from each extremity of said cross member to an apex thereabove; means carried by said frame for supporting it from a supporting structure; perforated hinge brackets at the extremities of said cross member; a swinging socket member at the apex of said frame; and a pair of door members each formed of a single length ofwire, each wire extending from a perforation in one of said hinge brackets outwardly and upwardly and terminating within said socket member; and means for supporting an electric lamp socket from said cross member.

7. A frame for supporting a canopy comprising: a cross bar; a main wire frame extending through said cross bar at its extremities and extending upwardly intermediate its extremities to an apex; a supporting hook carried at said apex for supporting said framefrom any desired structure perforated hinge brackets carried at the lower extremities of said wire frame; pivot members carried by said frame adjacent its apex; a socket member arranged to swing upon said pivot members; a pair of wire-like door members; an upwardly turned extremity on each of said door members passing through the perforations in said brackets; and a downwardly turned portion on the other extremity of each of said door members. both of said latter portions passing into said socket member so that the movements of either door member will be communicated to said socket member and by it to the other door member. I

8. A frame for supporting a canopy comprising: a cross bar;a main wire frame extending through said cross bar at its extremities and extending upwardly intermediate its extremities to an apex; a supporting hook carried at said-apex for supporting said frame from any desired structure; perfo rated hinge brackets carried at thelower extremities of said wire frame; pivot members carried by said frame adjacent iits'apex; a

sleeve-like socket member arranged to swing upon said pivot members; a pair of wire-like door members; an upwardly turned extremity on each of said door members passing through the perforations in said brackets; and a downwardly turned portion on the other extremity of each of said door members,

both of said latter portions passing into said socket member alongsideeach other so that the movements of one door member will be communicated through said socket member to the other door member, latter portions being projected at an angle to the axis of rotation so that they will cramp each other in said socket members during the are of swing of said door member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OWEN S. CASE. 

